Belt-forming device



A. L. OWENS BELT FORMING DEVICE Filed Dec.

Nov. 21, 1950 ANNIE Lr-xuzq OWE/v6 INVENTOR.

BY w

Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BELT-FORMING DEVICE Annie Laura Owens, Fort Worth, Tex.

- Application December 10, 1947, Serial No. 790,802

1 Claim. 1 This invention relates to forming devices for belts made of linen, cotton, and other fabrics, and it has particular reference to a plurality of plvotally connected forming blades of difierent sizes which may be selectively employed for use in lining or forming belts, and similar articles,

which have been previously constructed from difierent types of closely woven fabrics, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality of blades or stays of different lengths and widths having a common pivot at one end fixed to a clamp, or other suitable device, by which the same may be detachably secured to a work-table and the blades or forms selected individually and extended vertically whereby a tubular fabric structure, such as a belt, can be inserted thereover after the lining or belt stiffener material has been attached to the stay, affording a convenient and expeditious means of inserting the liner within the tubular belt structure.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of -a nested'arrangement of belt-forming stays which may be constructed of semi-flexible metals, plastics, or other suitable materials, by which is afiorded a convenient and economical set of forming devices enabling the housewife or home seamstress to perform operations by which products may be produced at great savings in time and effort. while matching commercially produced products of similar character.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of apparatus which comprises a .plurality of different size blades or gauges, providing rigid or semi-rigid stays of different widths by which tubular fabric structures can be expertly formed and lined to produce belts of fabric materials, or finished from materials of garments so that such belts can match the garment and thus afford a means of producing attractive ensembles in home dressmaking establishments which are ordinarily performed only by commercial processes.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the invention in partial cross-section, taken on lines l-| of Figure 2, secured to the edge'of a table, shown fragmentarily, and illustrating the manner in which the stays or blades may be operatively arranged.

Figure 1a illustrates, in outline, the clamp for holding the stays, the same being shown as a. sheet metal stamping-formed with bends along the dotted lines. ,1 g c Figure 2 is a plan view of the invention, illustrating the blades or stays in their nested positions, and showing the attaching clamp to which they are hingedly connected.

Figure 3 is a perspective illustration of one of the blades.

Figure 4 fragmentarily illustrates'one oi the blades showing the manner of attaching a belt lining or stiffener thereto, and

Figure 5 illustrates the manner in which the tubular belt structure is drawn over the belt lining and the blades.

Accordingly, the invention comprises a plurality of different size blades II], which are preferably formed of a relatively thin gauge sheet metal, such as aluminum, stainless steel, or the like, and have their outer ends formed with an angular point H which is the conventional form of the end of a belt employed in womens apparel, and which belts are generally made from fabric material, such as various forms of closely woven linen, cotton, woolens, and the like. The

blades l0 are formed with a twist or a rightangular bend I2 opposite the point Ii providing a flange 13 by which a plurality of the members Ill can be assembled together, as in Figure 2, and secured by a bolt or screw l4 and adjusted by a thumb nut l5 threaded thereupon.

The assembly is arranged within a clamp it having an integral depending portion ll provided with an integral flange l8 securable beneath the over-reaching edge IQ of a table top 2%, in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. A clamp screw 2! is arranged within the member it to engage the underside of the table top l9 to detachably secure the assembly to the latter for convenient operation. Obviously the device may be attached to the work-table of a sewing machine, or the like, if desired. 7

The blades Mi may be selectively arranged, as in Figure 1, so that one may be extended vertically for convenient access and providing for the attachment of the belt lining or stifiener 22, shown in Figure 4, which may be later enveloped by the tubular belt structure 23, illustrated in Figure 5.

The belt is usually formed by first stitching the fabric in a tubular form and turning the same so that the stitched edges of the material are internally of the structure, the pointed end having been shaped by stitching at angles thereacross to obtain the spear-like shape, such as that illustrated in Figure 5. The stiffener or linlngmaterial 22, usually of a heavy, coarsely woven material, after obtaining the proper width, has one end turned back upon itself and is stitched at angles, as at a in Figure 4, and the triangular shaped corners are trimmed to produce the desired results. A pocket 24 is thus formed which is placed over the end H of the blade II, as in Figure 4, so that the main body of the liner 22 will extend along the length of the blade III. In this position the tubular belt structure 23 can be drawn over the end of the blades l0, and the pocket 24 of the liner 22, so that the seam 25 runs longitudinally of the blades I! along its center, as shown in Figure 5, in order that the finished product will have the seam 25 arranged on the inside 01' the belt structure.

Obviously, the invention provides a simplified means of inserting liners in tubular belt structures, enabling persons of ordinary skill to produce fabric belts matching other garments with a minimum of effort and expense and enabling persons to produce their own garments in their own homes and which equal the quality and appearance of those manufactured commercially.

It is contemplated that a plurality oi. the blades it of difierent widths be aiforded so that the individual might be provided with a forming blade or any size desired. Obviously, it is desirable that the breadth of the members Ill be slightly under the width measurements of the belt formed thereon in order to compensate for the thickness of the materials employed. The

assembly is centrally positioned between the parallel flanges 26 of the clamp it, which rise above the table top 20, and spaced from the flanges 28 by a sleeve 21 arranged on each side of the assembly of blades l0 about the bolt l4 so that suitable tension may be had upon the portion I3 01' the blades III, as in Figure 2, to insure proper rigidity of the members ill in their operative position. The assembly is compact in form 4 and may be detached from the table and stored when not in use.

Manii'estly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of considerable changes and modifications. from time to time, by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope oi the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

In a belt forming device, in combination, a'

plurality of forming blades of the same length but of different widths, and capable of selective operation, a clamp member embracing one end of said blades providing a common pivot then.- for, each of said blades being formed with a transverse twist near its pivoted end in said clamp member, and means forming part of said clamp member for detachably securing same to a work table.

ANNIE LAURA OWENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

